Good morning, brothers and sisters.
Our verse for today comes from Acts 7:39, “Whom our fathers would not obey, but rejected. And in their hearts they turned back to Egypt.”
We all know the story of the rich young ruler who came to Jesus inquiring as to what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. In response, Jesus mentioned some of the commandments that God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai, and the man claimed to have kept them in full since he was young. Then the scripture says that Jesus looked at him, loved him, and pointed out the one thing that he lacked. Jesus told him to sell whatever he had and give to the poor, and he would have treasure in heaven. But then Jesus added a bit more. He told him to come and take up his cross and follow Him. But the young man was not able to do it. He had come to Jesus for answers, or direction, or at least some justification or affirmation. But when it came time to commit, the rich man went back to his possessions and comfortable way of life. And are we really surprised? If either the rich part of the man or the young part of the man didn’t lead us to expect him to cling to his lifestyle, certainly being both rich and young virtually guaranteed his choice. But such wasn’t the option for the Hebrews who were delivered from Egypt. There was no wealth and life of ease and preference calling them back to Egypt. The brief account in Exodus of their time of ever-increasing oppression makes it quite clear that as their numbers grew, so did the harshness of their mistreatment. Eventually, Pharaoh ordered the killing of their newborn sons, first by the midwives as they delivered them and ultimately, by the throwing of the infant boys into the river.
No, there was nothing that they left behind that should make them long to return. But long they did. In fact, their hearts not only longed to go back, they turned back to Egypt. Even as their feet were taking them closer to the promised land, their hearts turned back to where and from what they had been rescued. It makes no sense, not for them several thousand years ago, and not for you and me when we do it today. There was nothing back there for them, and there is nothing back there for you, despite how rich or how young you were. The cross of Christ is the way to eternal life. Keep your heart turned in that direction.
As we seek Him today, keep your heart turned towards the love and forgiveness of Jesus and the cross where He displayed it all.
Have a terrific Monday.
#4 Rich Holt
Dad of Ripken, Koy, TrishaJean, Samantha, Kakie Holiday and Raleigh
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.
